Combined cutting and loading machine



Feb. 2, 1954 F. CARTLIDGE COMBINED CUTTING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26. 1949 Feb. 2, 1954 F. CAR TLlDGE COMBINED CUTTING AND' LOADING MACBINE.

Filed Aug. 26, 1949 i a a x m a a l Y a T 6 M x 4 a. a, a z g w x 3 a 7, 4 5 g x a .nr En for' fm CCm/'41005 Patented Feb. 2, 1954 COMBINED CUTTING AND LOADING MACHI Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 26, 1949, Serial No. 112,500

10 claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cutting and loading machines, and more particularly to a cutting and loading element for such machines adaptedto cut and load material such as coal or the like from a solid mine wall.

Heretofore, various forms of continuous cutting and loading machines have been used to cut and load coal from a solid coal face. The most successful of these machines have used a plurality of parallel spaced vertically arranged cutter chain carrying cutter bars mounted to operate to cut swaths of coal from the solid coal face during vertical movement of the cutter bars about a horizontal axis. While such machines have successfully cut and loaded coal from the solid, in order to do this without consuming an excessive amount of power, the cutter chains have been spaced so closely together that a large percentage of the coal obtained is in the nature of fine coal with a resultant large loss of coal as it passes through the washer and diiliculty in marketing the fine coal not so lost.

It has been attempted to space thecutter bars farther apart in order to increase the percentage of coarse coal, but When this is done the cores between the cutter bars obstruct feeding movement thereof, resulting in excessive power consumption and overloading of the machine and even at times stopping the cutting and loading operation entirely until the cores have been broken down.

The device of my present invention has as its principal Object to overcome these difliculties by providing a cutting and loading element of a novel and efcient construction arranged to cut a plurality of kerfs spaced a relatively Wide distance apart and leaving a plurality of corestherebetween, and penetrating the cores and Wedging them into the kerfs along the cleavage planes of the coal.

Another Object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of cutting and loading element adapted to continuously cut 'and load coal from the solid, includin a pair of parallel spaced orbitally guided cutter chains movable vertically as a unit and having a conveying means therebetween with core breaker means arranged to engage the cores between the kerfs cut by the cutter chains and wedge and break them along the cleavage planes of the coal.

A further and more specific Object of my invention is to provide a Simplified form of cutting and loading element adapted for the continuous cutting and loading of coal from the solid, including a plurality of spaced-apart kerf 2 cutters and rotatable breaker wheels movable therewith into engagement with the cores left between the kerfs cut by the kerf cutters to continuously wedge apart and break down the coal therein.

A still further Object of my invention is to provide a new and improved form of cutting and loading element adapted for the continuous cutting and loading of material such as coal from a solid mine face, including a pair of parallel spaced cutter chains guided for orbital movement in vertical planes, with flights connecting the chains together and having cutting means projecting therefrom to cut parallel kerfs in the space between the cutter chains, and also having rotatable core breakers carried thereby and arranged to penetrate and wedge apart and break down the cores left between the kerfs cut by the kerf cutters to be carried away :by the flights.

My present invention is an improvement in the invention disclosed in my Patent No. 2,287,230, granted June 23, 1942.

These and other objects of my invention will more clearly appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a cutting and loading machine having a cutting element constructed in accordance With my invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary plan view of the forward end view of the cutting and loading machine shown in Figure 1 with certain parts thereof broken away and certain other parts shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in substantially longitudinal section taken through the cutting and loading element;

` Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through one of the breaker wheels between two kerf cutters and showing the relation of the kerf cutters and core breaker during cutting;

. Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VI-VI of Figure 1.

Referring now in particular to the drawings, the cutting and loading element constructed in accordance with my invention is shown as being embodied in a continuous cutting and loading machine of the laterally spaced continuous tread type. The loading machine includes generally a main frame m mounted on and propelled at traveling and feeding speeds by a pair of laterally spaced continuous tread devices l ll.

An inclined boom |2 having an inclined conveyor 13 movable therealong, herein shown as being a chain and flight type of conveyor, projects forwardly of said main frame and has a ground engaging apron |4 at its forward end, disposed beneath a cutting and loading element lS, projecting forwardly of' said boom. The; apron |4 extends laterally beneath the gathering and loading element |5 to the receiving end of the conveyor |3 and beyond opposite sides thereof The inclined boom I2 is pivotally mountedadjacent its rear end on an upright turret (8', mounted on the forward end of the main frame o, for pivotal movement with respect' thereto about. a vertical axis and afiording a means `for` swinging-'- the boom 12 and cutting and loading element 15 from side to side.

A discharge conveyor 19 having a receiving end disposed beneath the discharge end of the elevat-- ing conveyor 13 extends beyond the rear end of said; main frame andmay be lateraily; and verticallv adjustable with respect to'saidj main frame for; discharging the mined material into' mine cars:.or:the;like. Hydraulicjacks 20; 20-may-be mounted on projecting forward portions 2 |,,2-,l of the-;:turret 18 on opposite: sides. of: the boom 12 and: may:- besuitably.. connectedz tosaid boomto elevategsaid boom and feed: the cutting and loading: element.. l vertically. Suitable power drive means; (not show-n) may also be providedto'.

swing; said turret; and boom: from side to= side. Qthenmeans; may beprovided to swing the dischargeconveyor lesfromside to. side and to eleva te the: discharge end' thereof. Said drive means; are; narpart. of my present invention, so need not herein: be, shownor described in detail.

The; outing; and loading element l includes twmlaterally-spaced cutter chains-22, 22 guided for or-bital travel vinwvertioal planes about a pair oi laterally. spacedcutter ba-rs23, 23. Thecutter bars 23; 23..are, connected together bya lowertransverse plate 24 and an upper material carrys. ing plate 25,. along which. flights 2 6, 2 6 are, moved by, the cutter chainsZ 22, 22

The, cutter bars 23, 2.3 arerigidly mounted on and projectiforwardly from the s forward' end of the ;boomt 12. on. support structures 21, 21 extendingjalong oppositesides ofLsaidboom and secured tdthefoutersideofl saidcutter bar as by welding. The support* structures 21; 2T have housing 28, 28 monted thereon intermediate the-f ends of saidstructureaand formiiigbearing supports for au transversely extending chain drive, shaft 25. Thestructures 27:21 havesinwardly, extending` verti'cal' forward: ends portions. 30', 31? secred. to the outsides, of chain guidfemembers ,31, 31.

Each cutter chainguide member 3 I has-in: wardly facing shouldered' guid'es. 32 and 3'3ex:- tendingalongits upper and'` lower portions., respectively, along which' the cutter chain .2 2' moves. s The' upper guide' 32 has a .wearing strip 34` extending therealong which may be hardened to form a wear'resistant* track for. the chain. A guide' plate or-cutter. head 35: extends forwardly of the* guide member 3| and has a: tongue 36" extendingrearwardlyalong the' outside of= the guide'member''l -andfguided in a* channeled guide afiwfor-movement With' respect thereto` in longitudinaldirection: A cap* screw* 31 ext'ending' through a slotteds portionofsaid tongue and' threaded in' a boss- 39 on' theinner side of`- the guide` member 31 is provided to hold-said'cutter headinadjustment: adjusting' screw- 38 threaded in a lug 39`-extending outwardly from* the tongue '-3&` is-prov-ided to =adjustably;move 'the cutter head BS-'and-*vary the-tensionof the-cutter chain 22. The adjusting screw 38 as herein shown has a hexagonal head abutting a lug 40 projecting outwardly from the guide member 3l so that turning movement of said screw will extend the cutter head 35 or pernit it to be retracted.

The. upper material carrying plate 25- i`s secured at its* outer sidesto the guide members 31, 3! as by welding and its upper surface is substantially tangentially of and extends forwardly from a-direQtion-changing roller 43 on the shaft 29 to a; position adjacent and substantially tangentially of a direction-changing roller 44 journa-led on a-transverse shat' 45. The shaft 45 is mounted at its ends` in' the cutter heads 35, 35 and is securec? theretoby-nuts 46, 46 threaded on oppositeendsithereof and recessed within and engaging bosses 41, 41 within which said shaft is mounted (Figure 5).

Drive sprookets 49-49 are mounted on the transverseshaft;ZQ-'inWardly-Of' the bearing housings- 28; 28? and m'esh withand drive the cutter: chains-22, 22; Chain and* sprocket drives au. connected td and: driven from` the fiightconveyor.

, 3 to oppositeends'offthe-shaft 2-9= are provided:

to; driversaidshaft and: the cutter chains 22, 22 about, the cutter bars 2-3; 23;

The cutter chains 22:, 22; change their direction: of travel at' the' forward end;of the; cutter.

. bars 23, 23 aboutfiangedrims5l35l of the direc mon-changing; roller: M; Said: rims: are: disposed justtinwardlyxoi the cutter 'heads 3'5;,3.5 and; their outer peripheries are in' substantially tangential alignment: with: the upper *and lowerguides-.3:2 32; and-3.3;. 33. The cutter chains;22-, zzareheld inlaterally,` spaoed: relation, with: respect. to eachx other and; in engagement: with the: peripheries; of: theflanged rims 5 l and: inthe guides 32; 32 and; 34; 3.42' by means: of: the fiights. 23 26- secured at their opposte' ends'to'- said cutter chains; as' Will hereinafiterrmoreclearly appear'as* ths-,specification proceeds.

The cutter: chains:.2 i 24: may: be-of any: well known: form; commonlyused* to; cut: solid: ma,- terial: such as .coa1, `and:- as: hereinshown include:- a pluraiity: ofi bloclsts 54-54 v pivotally connected: togethergby-links 55, 55: and; havingg cutter. bits' 56 ;a mounted therein andprojecting therefroma inithe usual .mannercandsetto cut: ae the cutting: and: loading; element, moves' upwardly from; the-- floor to the roof of the mine.

Each: flight* 26; as hereinshown; hasian advance; material moving :surfa'ce- 57: inclined. from: the bottom: thereofjat a slig'ht angle inthedirection of travelof the: flightz, Thefiight 25 also has: a: bottom: surace 58:' forminga based'or.` said; flight; and: resting on; and; movable along the: upper* material-car-ryii.-, pl'ata- 25:; and.. engaging; themollers 43: and; 4 as; the cutter: chains: 22; u 22: change their direction at opposite endsof` their: orbital path: of: travel Opposte enda portions 55, 592015 the` fiightss-.2'5-,a zfi extendupwardly frame the: ends of; saidi ights, beyond the upper:- end's thereof and eachend: portion. SB-:forns alink-...oft

the: cutter chain; 22rand is, pi-votallya cennectedzto adjacent ends: of; certainaof: the block-s 54; 54 of; thezassociatedcutter chain:

A pluralitytkof laterall space'd: cutterarmsor-r blohks: 54:. 6.4 areherein shown as projecting up wardly from each fiight 'and asbeingform'ed integrally therewith said b-lcksmay terminate in: the; same-planesas the blocks flj 54 of'the" cutter 'chains 22 2 2 and* may 'have'- cutter 'bits 553' B mounted therein' and* projectihg upwardly* therefrom: Eachcutter-bit `i'visherein'shown as* ansema::

5 having 'three eutting points; theouterrot which Getting points projecti'beyond opposite. sides: of

said blocks to cutrclearance therefor.- As lierein shown, three of said blocks' are equally'spaced along teach s fiight 42 5 although .it is readily apparent `that :any number .of blocks maybe provided, Vdepending upo'n :thee spacing :between the cutter ohains 2|, 2| and theiisiz'e ofuooal itis desred to cut and'break. down from the solid.

Theme'ans for penetrating and -wedging apart and' breaking' the cares-into" the. kerfsiout by the cutter bits 56, 5s;and:65; fiincludesaplurality of `breaker wheels' Six-66, hereinnshownas .being mountedionthe fiights 26, 25,:t onesideof the cutter bits-55, 55. As (shown in Figure.2, the breaker wheels .68,155 are arranged'in stagge'ed relation with respect to: each other on each succeeding flight of the cutting and loading element. Ifhus, one breaker wheel:-56 is disposed between the cutter 'chain 22 and a cutter block 64 while the next breaker Wheel on the same flight is spaced'two cutter blocks from said first breaker Wheel and is mounted between two. cutter :blocks 64,'64. on the next succeeding flight the breaker wheels `may be mounted alternately of thebreaker wheels on the flight just mentioned so that the cores left byvthe cutter chains 22, 22 and the bits 65, 65 are alternately engaged by the breaker wheels 56, 66. This order `of arrangement is shown as continuing throughout the cutting and r loading element although it may be understood thatmoreor less breaker wheels may be provided on each flight and that the breaker wheels may be entirely eliminated from some flights, if desired, depending upon the miningconditions and on the hardness and-.friability of the coal being cut-and loaded.

As shown in Figure 4, each cutter block 64 has a boss 61 extending from opposite sides thereof and intermediate the ends thereof. Th bosses 61 are apertured and, asherein shown, have a transverse shaft 69 extending therethrough for the length of the fiight and mounted at its ends in bosses 10, 10 extendinginwardlyfrom opposite end portions 59, 59 of the fiight 25. The shaft 69 forms a pivotaloonnecting means for brackets 'H, 'H for the breaker wheels BB, 66. The brackets 'H, 'Il extend rearwardly 'of the shaft 69. and are of an open formation to allow the breaker wheelsBS; 58 to extend between the sides thereof and have laterally spaced runners 13,'13 spaced rearwardly of the blocks 64, 64 and slidably engageable with the plate 25. Bosses 13, 13 are herein shown as being formed integrally with and projectng upwardly from the top sides of the runners 12, 12 and as' having a transverse shaft 14 mo'unted therein. The breaker wheel 65 is rotatably mounted on the transverse shaft 14 on bearings 16, 16.

'The breaker wheels 68, 66 are of such a diameter as to extend beyond the upper margins of cutter blocks 54, 54 and 64,"64 `a distance suffi.. cient to penetrate the coal left between said blocks and to be rotated by engagement with the coal and at the same time penetrate the coal and spread or wedge it apart along its cleavage planes 'into the kerfs on opposite sides of said breaker wheels, thus causing the 'coal 'to 'drop *onto 'the plate 25 and be cariied therealong by the flights 26, 26 for discharge onto the conveyor I3.

It should here be noted that the runners 12, 72 are of such a length asto come into engage- -ment with the next succeeding fiightl as said flight moves about the direction-changing roller 44 and to react thereagainst .as the breaker wheels `66, 66 round` the;roller .Mand'con'e;into ;stop 1 9 .projects forwardlysfrom :each .bracket 1| .to .engage-= the* engagement With ;the coal.

top of thesassociated flight z andprevent .said bracket from::pivotingndownwaidly when .traveling toWar-d the coal face. 2

.The breaker wheels x 65, 136 ;may :be ;of isevez'al forms but are ipreferably ota .wedgeeshapedfor mation having a. substantiallyr V-shaped ;engag-.

g into the coal a depth of from 18 to 24 inches and may then' be elevatedby pivotal movement 'of the boom 12 aboutits -axis ofpivotal connection to the turret a, eected by the hy-draulio jacks 28, 'za, it being understood that 'during this. elevating -movement of Said cuttei' "bars thecutter chains 22,'22 are continuously:trave1ing..there-: about and that the cutter bitst, with cutter bits 65,65 cut'aplurality of relatvely .widely spaced kerfs in the coal face from the bottom to the top thereof. During the sumping operation and as the cutter 'bar-513523 move upwardly during the vertical cutting operation; the breake Wheels sa '65 will come into engagement with the coal face between the kerfs cut 'by the cutter chains 22, 22 and the cutterbits 65 35 to penetra-te the cores and spread orwedgethem apart along` the cleavag'e planes of 'the coal-into the kerfs on oppos'ite sides of saidbreaker wheels, where it willfall onto the p1ate.2| for discharge onto the conveyor l3. When .the cutting element reaches its upward extremity .of travel, which isusuallyat or adjacentthe mine roo, the machine may be backedawayfrom the face by'reverse operation of the continuous treaddevices ll, ll, the remain'ng'coalalong the mine roof being cut and takendown 'during this backing up or withdrawing operation. The cutting and loading elementmay'then be'moved cr positioned to cut another block of .coal from the coal face fromthe mine bottomsto the mineroof.

.The cutting and loading element .l5 may be positioned to mine the-second block by turning' the turret IB about itsaxisof pivotal connection to the mainframe m to swingtheboom laterally, it'being understood that the* machine may be positioned'near the center of the working place during suchcutting *and loading .operations. These sumping, Vertical cutting, withdrawing and positioning operations may .be repeated across the entirecoal face until all .a of the coal has been mined fromthe coal, face to the required depth without the usual cutting, Shooting and loading operations.

It may be seen from theforegoing that a novel form of cutting element hasbeen, provided for the continuous cutting .and loading. of ooal which, instead `of cutting a plurality of closely spaced kerfs, cuts a plurality ofkerfsuspaced 'rather widely apart andthen penetrates. and wedges the cores between the kerfs into the lerfs-alongthe cleavage. planes of the coal so as to provide a cutting and loading element which willcontinuously cut and load a much higher percentage of co'arse-or lump coal than has heretofore been possible, with littleif any increase in power consumption.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

,I claim as my invention:

.1. In a continuous cutting and loading element, two spaced apart cutter bit carrying cutter chains guided for orbital travel in parallel spaced vertical planes, a material carrying plate spaoing said cutter chains apart, a material moving flight connected with said cutter chains and moved along said plate thereby, a rotatable core breaker operatively connected with said flight for movement therewith, said core breaker having a converging serrated substantially wedgeshaped engaging surface adapted to engage, wedge apart, and break down the core between the kerfs cut by said cutter chains.

,2. A continuous cutting and loading element including two parallel spaced cutter bars having cutter bit carrying chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a material carrying plate disposed between said bars and a night movable along said plate and connected with said chains, a bracket connected to said fiight and extending rearwardly thereof, a rotatable core breaker mounted in said bracket and having a Converging substantially wedge-shaped serrated inaterial-engaging surface, the periphery of which is spaced inwardly oi the cutting ends of said cutter bits to penetrate and wedge apart and break down the core between the kerfs cut by said cutter chains.

3. A continuous cutting and loading element including two parallel spaced cutter bars having cutter bit carrying cutter chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a material-carrying plate spacing said bars apart and a fiight mo'vable along said plate and connected between said chains, a cutter block projecting from said fiight having a cutter bit projecting therefrom, a bracket member pivotally connected to said flight to one side of said cutter block and mounted for slidable movement along said plate, a core breaker rotatably carried by said bracket and having a converging substantially wedge-shaped material engaging periphery spaced inwardly of the cutting ends of said cutter bits, and means limiting pivotal movement of said bracket when changing its direction at the forward ends of said cutter bars and maintaining said core breaker in position to penetrate the material between the kerfs cut thereby and wedge it apart along its cleavage planes onto said plate.

4.-In a cutting element adapted for the continuous cutting and loading of coal and the like, two parallel spaced cutter bars having cutter bit carrying chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a plate spacing said cutter bars apart, and flights connected with said chains and movable therewith along said plate and having a plurality of blocks projecting therefrom having cutter bits carried thereby and arranged to cut kerfs intermediate the kerfs cut by said cutter chains, the improvements comprising a plurality of brackets pivoted to said fiights for movement therewith and having breaker wheels rotatably carried thereby, said wheels each having converging serrated engaging faces engageable with the uncut material between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said brackets when changing their directions oftravel at the forward ends of. said cutter bars and maintaining said core breakers in position to penetrate and split and wedge the material down along its cleavage planes into the path of said fiights;

5. In a cutting element adapted for thecontinuous cutting and loading of coal and the like, two parallel spaced cutter bars having cutter bit carrying cutter chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a, material-carrying plate disposed between said cutter bars, fiights connected with said chains for movement along said plate, direction changing devices at opposite ends of said bars and plates about which said chains and flights turn, and a, plurality of cutter bits carried by said flights at points spaced laterally therealong, the improvements comprising a plurality of brackets transversely pivoted to said flights and rotatable breaker wheels rotatably carried by said brackets, said breaker wheels each having converging wedge-shaped engaging peripheries engageable with the uncut material between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits and penetrate and wedge it along the cleavage planes of the material into the path of said flights, and said brackets being of sufiicient length to engage the next succeeding fiights during travel about the forward of said direction-changing devices, said next succeeding fiight providing a reaction means for the next preceding bracket during the wedge and breaking operation when changing its direction of travel.

6. In a cutting element adapted for the continuous cutting and loading of coal and the like, two parallel spaced cutter bars having a plurality of cutter bit carrying chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a material-carrying plate disposed between said cutter bars. material-moving fiights connected with said cutter chains for movement along said plate, direction-changing devices at opposite ends of said plate about which said chains and fiights turn, and a plurality of cutter bits carried by said fiights at laterally spaced points therealong, the improvements comprising a plurality of brackets trailing said flights and transversely pivoted thereto to one side of said cutter chains, each of said brackets having runners supporting said brackets while moving along said plate and a rotatable breaker Wheel carried thereby,. said runners limiting pivotal movement of said brackets and maintaining said core breakers in core breaking positions when turning about said direction changing devices and said breaker wheels each having converging Wedge-shaped engaging faces engageable with the uncut material between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits and penetrate and wedge it down along its cleavage planes into the path of said flights.

'7. In a cutting element adapted for th continuous cutting and loading of coal and the like, two parallel spaced cutter bars having a plurality of cutter bit carrying chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, a material-carrying plate disposed between said cutter bars, material-moving fiights connected with said chains for movement along said plate, direction-changing devices at the forward ends oi said cutter bars about which said chains and fiights turn, and a plurality of cutter bits carried by said flights at laterally spaced points therealong, the improvement comprising a plurality of brackets transversely pivoted to said flights and extending rearwardly therefrom to one side of said cutter bits and chains, each of said brackets having a runner supporting said bracket while moving along said plate and a rotatable breaker Wheel carried thereby, said breaker wheels each having a converging wedgeshaped engaging face engageable with the uncut material between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits and penetrate and wedge it down along its cleavage planes into the path of said flights, and said runners being of sufficient length to engage the next succeeding flights during movement of said brackets about the forward of said directionchanging devices, said next succeeding flight affording a reaction means for the next preceding bracket during the wedging and breaking operation and during travel thereof about the forward of said direction-changing devices.

8. A continuous cutting and loading element including two spaced apart orbitaly guided vertically disposed cutter bit carrying cutter chains, a plurality of parallel spaced fiights connected between said cutter chains for travel therewith, a direction changing idler at the forward end of said cutting and loading element, about which said flights turn, brackets pivotally connected with and trailing said fiights, and rotatable breaker wheels carried thereby for engagement with the face of the core between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits, for penetrating and wedging the cores laterally toward said kerfs, said brackets normally being spaced in advance of the next succeeding fiight during orbital travel of said flights, but being sufficiently long to engage and be supported by and react against the next succeeding flight during travel about said direction changing idler during the operation of penetrating and breaking the face of the core.

9. A continuous cutting and loading element including two parallel spaced cutter bars disposed in vertical planes and having cutter bit carrying chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, parallel spaced flights connected with said cutter chains for movement therewith, a plurality of laterally spaced blocks projecting from said flights and having cutter bits carried thereby and positioned to cut kerfs intermediate the kerfs cut by said cutter chains, a plurality of brackets trans- 10 versely pivoted to said flights between said cutter bits and movable therewith in trailing relation With respect to said blocks and bits, means limiting pivotal movement of said brackets, and a breaker Wheel rotatably mounted in each of said brackets in trailing relation with respect to the blocks projecting from the associated fiight, said breaker Wheel having a substantially wedgeshaped engaging face converging toward its periphery and maintained by said brackets in position to engage the face of the coal in the space -between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits to penetrate and wedge the coal down into the kerfs cut by said bits.

10. A continuous cutting and loading element comprising two paralle spaced cutter bars having cutter bit carrying cutter chains guided for orbital travel thereabout, parallel spaced flights connected with said chains inwardly of the peripheries of said `bars for movement with said chains, a direction changing idler at th forward end of said cutting and loading element about which said flights. turn, brackets pivotally connected with and trailing said flights, and rotatable breaker wheels mounted in said brackets for engagement with the cores between the kerfs cut by said cutter bits, for penetrating and wedging the cores laterally toward said kerfs, said brackets nornally being spaced in advance of the next succeeding flight during orbital travel thereof, but being sufficiently long to engage and be supported by and' react against the next succeeding fiight during travel about said direction changing idler in the operation of penetrating and breaking the face of the core.

FRANK CARTLIDGE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 981,201 Kuhn 1 Jan. 10, 1911 1,404,835 Christine Jan. 31,1922 2,269,781 Osgood Jan. 13, 1942 2,287,230 Cartlidge June 23, 1942 2,368,863 Miller Feb. 6, 1945 2,415,217 Osgood Feb. 4, 1947 

